Crème brûlée recipe
A classic dessert that’s brilliant for serving numbers. Make in batches and store in the fridge for 5–10 hours. This is delicious served with soft summer fruits such as raspberries or a fruit coulis.
Prepare ahead
The custard can be made up to the end of step 7 up to 2 days ahead. Not suitable for freezing.
In the aga
Slide the tin on to the lowest set of runners in the roasting oven, with the cold sheet on the second set of runners, and bake for 15 minutes or until just set around the edges, then transfer to the simmering oven for 45 minutes. At step 8, add the demerara sugar and brown with a blowtorch.
Ingredients
- 85 g Caster sugar
- 12 Egg yolks
- 3 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1.2 l Double cream
- 225 g Demerara sugar
- 100 g Raspberries, to decorate
- 1 Sprig of mint leaves, to decorate
Details
- Cuisine: French
- Recipe Type: Dessert
- Difficulty: Easy
- Preparation Time: 15 mins
- Cooking Time: 60 mins
- Serves: 12
Step-by-step
- Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan/325°F/Gas 3). Meanwhile, put the sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl and whisk together by hand.
- Put the double cream and single cream into a saucepan and heat until just below boiling point ( just hot enough to put your finger in).
- Pour the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture, whisking quickly until combined.
- Pour the custard through a sieve into the prepared ovenproof dish.
- Put the dish into a large roasting tin and pour enough boiling water into the tin so that it comes halfway up the sides of the dish.
- Carefully slide into the oven and cook for 35-45 minutes or until set but with a slight wobble in the middle. Check after 30 minutes to see how it's doing.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the roasting tin, then place in the fridge and chill until stone cold.
- Sprinkle over the demerara sugar, then pop under a hot grill, watching it very carefully, for 20-25 minutes or until melted and golden brown. You could also use a blowtorch to do this. To give the topping time to soften slightly, chill in the fridge for at least 5 hours and up to 10 hours, but no more or it will turn to liquid.
- To serve, cut into portions with a fish slice and decorate with raspberries and mint leaves.
Special equipment: